Law events: law, religion and sexuality
This summer Brunel is hosting two fascinating conferences exploring domestic and international laws in relation to religion and sexuality. We would be delighted to welcome alumni along for these professional development and networking opportunities.
The conferences will be held at the Brunel campus and feature some of the country’s leading experts in these fields.
- Conference 1: “Exploring New Directions in the Islamic Legal Tradition – Human Rights and Legal Reform in the 21st Century”
- Conference 2: “Law, Religion and LGBT Rights – revisiting Christian and Islamic legal traditions regarding sexuality”
Further details are provided below. If you are interested in attending, please book a place using the email addresses provided. Each conference costs £20 to attend and includes lunch, refreshments and a closing drinks reception.
Conference 1
Exploring New Directions in the Islamic Legal Tradition - Human Rights and Legal Reform in the 21st Century
Tue 18 June 2013, 9.30 am - 6.30 pm
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: ‘Exploring New Directions in Islamic Legal Tradition: Reinterpreting Sharia from Within?’ by Prof Shaheen Sardar Ali, Professor of Law, University of Warwick and Vice-Chair, United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
SESSION 1: Islamic legal tradition(s) and issues in human rights
- Prof Siobhan Mullally, National University of Ireland, Cork
- ‘Muslim Woman as “head of household”: Gender Equality, Property Rights and Islamic Debate’ by Dr Siraj Sait, University of East London
- ‘Sharia and Democratic Accountability: Reforming Islamic Legal Tradition since the Arab Spring’ by Prof Javaid Rehman, Brunel University
SESSION 2: In quest for equality: Islamic family law reform and women’s empowerment in Muslim societies
- ‘Family Law in the Arab Gulf: Recent Developments and Reform Patterns’ by Dr Lena- Maria Moeller, Hamburg University and Max Planck Institute,
- ‘Transnational Talaq in English Courts: An Anthropological Perspective’ by Prof Ilias Bantekas, Brunel University
- ‘Post-Divorce maintenance for Muslim Women in Pakistan and Bangladesh: A Comparative Perspective’ by Dr Ayesha Shahid, Brunel University
- ‘Examining Muslim Women’s Rights within the Personal Status Code of Iraq’ Ms Bnar Shekhani, Brunel University
SESSION 3: Plural legal frameworks in Britain: Shariah councils, Muslim women's rights and English law
- ‘Religious Arbitration and English Family Law: What are the consequences for British Muslim Women?’ by Dr Samiya Bano, University of Reading
- ‘Towards Conceptualising User Friendly Shariah Councils for British Muslims’ by Dr Rajnara Akhtar, University of Warwick,
- ‘Supremacy of State Law’ by Mr Nazir Afzal OBE, Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS North West
Tickets cost £20 and include lunch and refreshments. The third session will be followed by a drinks reception.
For information and registration for this event, please contact Ayesha Shahid on ayesha.shahid@brunel.ac.uk
Conference 2
Law, Religion and LGBT rights - Revisiting Christian and Islamic legal traditions regarding sexuality
Fri 5 July 2013, 10.30 am - 7pm
PANEL 1 - Religions, sexualities & LGBT rights
- ‘Human Relationships, Marriage and Society’ by Rt Revd Dr Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, Former Bishop of Rochester in the Church of England, Director of the Oxford Centre For Training, Research, Advocacy And Dialogue (OXTRAD)
- ‘Religion vs. Sexual Orientation: A Clash of Human Rights?’ by Prof Robert Wintemute, King’s College London
- ‘The supremacy of article 9 of the ECHR; the right of LGBT people to practice a religion’ by Prof Stephen Whittle, Manchester Metropolitan University
- ‘Law and Sexuality in the European Christian tradition; the case of Armenia’ by Dr Narine Ghazaryan, Brunel University
PANEL 2 - Embracing sexual diversity in the Muslim world
- ‘Sex, Islam and Empire’ by Prof Eric Heinze, Queen Mary University
- ‘Sexuality: the need for a new Fiqh (Islamic understanding)’ by Prof Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle, Emory University, US
- ‘Sexual and Gender Diversity in Islamic law: challenging orthodoxy within the Sharia’ by Prof Javaid Rehman, Brunel University
- ‘On Muslim Sexual and Gender Diversity and Lifeworlds beyond the Legal Form’ by Dr Vanja Hamzic, City University London
PANEL 3 – Empowerment of LGBT rights in the Muslim world and prospects for change
- ‘Muslim sexual minorities in Malaysia: the social and political context’ by Mr Shanon Shah, King’s College London
- ‘Theological and Legal Challenges in respect of Queer Muslim Women in Lebanon’ by Ms Farah Zeb, University of Exeter
- ‘Hijras of Pakistan and legal reform' by Mr Kamran Arif, Co-Chair of Pakistan Human Rights Commission
- ‘LGBT empowerment: lessons from Bangladesh’ by Mr Tinku Ishtiaq, Co-founder of Trikone & former Co-Chair of the IGLHRC, US
- ‘Queer debates at the United Nations: resolution 17/19 and reactions from the Muslim World’ by Dr Eleni Polymenopoulou, Brunel University
Tickets cost £20 and include lunch and refreshments. The panel sessions will be followed by a drinks reception.
For information and registration for this event, please contact Eleni Polymenopoulou on eleni.polymenopoulou@brunel.ac.uk
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 15 JUNE 2013
Organised by the Brunel Law School and the URC Security, Human Rights & the Media, in collaboration with the Brunel Human Rights Centre and the Law and Religion Research Group (LRRG).